West Virginia Rules DFS Game of Skill; No it’s Not, Says Delaware

Delaware AG Matthew Denn’s opinion it is DFS is a not a game of ability. At the very least, it’s not the means we play it!
Western Virginia and Delaware are two states that don’t have any plans to legalize daily dream sports in the future, and for two very different reasons. Two attorneys general, 400 miles aside, have actually demonstrated two very different opinions on the legality regarding the contests over the past days that are few.
On Monday, West Virginia’s AG ruled that there was you don’t need to legalize DFS as it had been prominently a casino game of skill and therefore perfectly legal under West Virginia law.
‘We read state legislation to prohibit just betting upon games decided at least predominantly by chance,’ penned Morrisey in his viewpoint. But DFS, he said ‘are determined predominantly by skill, knowledge, and athletic performance.’
Whether western Virginia will now move to regulate and tax the DFS industry, as its neighbor Virginia became initial US state doing at the start of the year, is needless to say a matter for the legislature.
Delaware Pulls the Plug
In stark contrast, Delaware pulled the plug on DFS week that is last with its AG, Matthew Denn, ruling, perhaps more controversially, that the contests were almost games of chance.
‘Relying in the Delaware Constitution, as well as State and Federal case legislation, DOJ attorneys determined that online fantasy contests that involve payment for playing and monetary rewards constitute gambling because possibility, as opposed to skill, could be the dominant factor in the results of these contests,’ said Denn.
‘The most skilled participants might lose and less skilled participants might win because of what actually happens during the real-life game. In other words, real-life players are human being and human behavior is unpredictable.
‘While its acknowledged that specific individuals may use their respective recreations knowledge in selecting their fantasy players and otherwise participating in such contests, that factor alone doesn’t make the contests games of skill.’
Precursor to Regulation?
Denn said that he had written cease and desist letters to DFS sites running in Delaware, including DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. There has been no statement that is formal any operator on the situation, nor any indication of whether they mean to comply.
Of course, the AG’s ruling would not preclude the legislature from passing a law to legalize and regulate DFS later on; certainly, similar rulings from DA’s in other states have shown to be a catalyst for the passing such legislation, as was the case in Tennessee and Mississippi earlier this year.
A bill to manage DFS was introduced into the Delaware home at zero hour at the end of the session that is legislative 30 June, but could was too late be pushed through.
‘We are sure numerous Delaware residents and visitors would enjoy participating in the complete array of fantasy recreations contests, including those that require payment for participation and have cash prizes,’ concluded Genn. ‘But until such competitions can be offered legally, the DOJ must enforce the legislation.’
RAWA Champion Chaffetz Grills AG Lynch, While Sanders Shocks with Clinton Endorsement
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) was back at it on Capitol Hill this week, as the congressman continues to need answers concerning the FBI’s recommendation to your Department of Justice (DOJ) not to prosecute Democratic contender that is presidential Clinton.
On July 6, FBI Director James Comey said Clinton’s use of an email that is private while serving as secretary of state was careless, but didn’t justify unlawful fees.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) seen here at an earlier hearing with all the FBI’s James Comey, grilled AG Loretta Lynch at a House Judiciary Commitee hearing on Tuesday concerning the legalities surrounding Hillary Clinton’s claims about her email server that is private usage. Lynch largely avoided taking any stance whatsoever, visibly irritating Chaffetz. Representative Elijah Cummings (D- Maryland) sits to Chaffetz’ right. (Image: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Chaffetz is Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson’s right-hand man in Congress. The representative introduced the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) in the homely house to coincide with Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-South Carolina) legislation in the Senate.
RAWA seeks to displace the Wire Act to its pre-2011 interpretation. Five years ago, the DOJ issued a viewpoint saying the Wire Act applied only to online activities wagering, efficiently opening states to legalize online casinos.
Chaffetz believes the DOJ had no right to unilaterally overhaul federal law. He also doesn’t believe the department is being candid in just how it’s responding to Comey’s findings.
Pleading the Fifth
The morning after his agency recommended no charges against Clinton for storing emails that are classified non-secure servers, Comey came across with all the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, of which Chaffetz is the president.
Although he didn’t have the blissful luxury of as much interview time as he did with Comey, Chaffetz did his best to take full advantage of the five minutes he’d with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Tuesday. As AG, Lynch is technically Comey’s boss, because the FBI is a division associated with the DOJ.
But Lynch deflected one concern after another, much to the chagrin of the Utah congressman. The AG avoided giving answers that are specific Chaffetz’ ongoing assault of ‘Is it legal or unlawful?’
‘ Is it illegal or legal to share classified information with somebody who doesn’t have security clearance?’ the congressman asked Lynch. ‘Is it legal or illegal to offer use of a person who doesn’t always have the security that is requisite to view classified material? Is it legal or illegal to keep, house, or retain classified information in a non-secure location?’
Whenever Lynch consistently and repeatedly referred him to ‘statutes’ to clarify the legal standing on any of these dilemmas, Chaffetz’ frustration was numerous and unhidden.
‘The lack of quality you give to this body is pretty that is stunnin . . My time has expired, If only I had about 20 more minutes,’ he noted.
Sanders Endorses Clinton
With the email scandal ( at the very least lawfully) behind her, Hillary Clinton has now gotten the nod that is official her previous nemesis in Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
‘Secretary Clinton has won the nomination that is democratic’ Sanders said in New Hampshire, standing alongside the former secretary of state and First Lady. ‘we mean to do everything I could to make certain she would be the president that is next of United States.’
Republican nominee Donald Trump countered the announcement by instantly releasing an advertising showcasing the times that are various said Clinton had been unfit to be president.
Bush and Obama Unite, for One Brief Shining Moment
Meanwhile, a rare moment of unity between the political parties emerged on July 12 in Dallas. Throughout a memorial service for the slain police officers ambushed on July 7, President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush came together in an attempt to honor those killed with a crazed anti-law, anti-white gunman in a sniper attack
Obama told mourners, ‘As Americans, we could decide that people like this killer will ultimately fail. They shall not drive us apart. We can decide to come together and work out our country mirror the good inside us, the hopes and simple dreams we share.’
Before Obama, Bush mentioned the selflessness of police officers everywhere.
‘Most of us imagine that if the moment called we would risk our lives to protect a spouse or a child,’ the former president said for it. ‘Those wearing the uniform assume that danger for the safety of strangers [at all times].’
Further responses about gun control therefore the Black Lives Matter movement through the service from Obama received critique from some portions, nevertheless, with numerous saying it had been not the place that is right time for you to address politically loaded issues.
Pennsylvania Online Gambling Bill Shelved Until Legislature Reconvenes This Fall
Billionaire and gambling that is anti-Internet Sheldon Adelson is likely happy to master Pennsylvania online gambling has been delayed until at least the fall. (Image: Associated Press/ haaretz.com)
Pennsylvania on line gambling will be pushed apart in Harrisburg until the autumn. That is the outcome that is unfortunate iGambling proponents after lawmakers in the Keystone State labored over gambling expansion legislation for the final several months.
At 12:01 am on July 12, Governor Tom Wolf (D) allowed a bipartisan budget plan to become law without his signature. The $31.5 billion expenditure blueprint shall increase paying for education and provide resources to combat the state’s heroin epidemic.
The issue that is primary how to shell out the dough. Depending on whom’s counting, the appropriations bill produces a $1-2 billion shortfall.
Largely pushed by Republicans within the General Assembly, gambling expansion is seen as one perfect untapped resource that may help pay for the plan. Nevertheless the legislature is anticipated to adjourn for the summer and not reconvene until sometime this fall.
Gambling on Hold
Led by State Rep. John Payne (R-District 106), the gambling expansion under consideration would have authorized off-track betting facilities and airports to house slot machines, regulate daily fantasy sports (DFS), and legalize online gambling.
Current land-based casinos would function as the only ones permitted to offer Web gambling. Licenses were expected to cost operators $8 million, with gross gaming revenues taxed at 16 per cent.
‘Regulating and taxing interactive gaming in Pennsylvania is just a viable option that could benefit the state and our communities,’ Payne said in late June. ‘we must consider revolutionary income sources to fill our budget shortfall and keep our public pension system solvent. before we ask the taxpayers to fork over more of these hard-earned cash,’
Gambling certainly won’t overcome the billion-dollar gap, nonetheless it would help.
Lawmakers estimate $100 million is produced for Harrisburg in the first 12 months alone mostly due to upfront licensing fees. This means five to 10 % of the budget gap could possibly be solved through gambling expansion.
State leaders are targeting an additional $1 tax on each pack of cigarettes sold, imposing a six percent taxation on digital entertainment downloads, and overhauling the state-run wine industry to allow private merchants to enter the market.
Spend Now, Spend Later
Anyone with credit cards knows how important its to pay on time. Unfortunately for residents in Pennsylvania, their leaders that are electedn’t as financially versed.
State Sen. Pat Browne (R-District 16), chairman of the state’s Senate Appropriations Committee, says action will be forthcoming.
‘One hundred million bucks into the scope of a $31.5 billion budget . . . it’s not required right away,’ Browne told the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Lehigh County senator added, nonetheless, that the odds of online gambling being reconsidered this fall are ‘probable.’
Wolf was justly upset that the General Assembly didn’t send him a way that is calculated spend for its spending plan.
‘The General Assembly has a constitutional obligation to pass a sustainable revenue package to purchase what they need to pay,’ Wolf said this week. ‘We owe it to taxpayers, our children, seniors, and our many susceptible to bring this across the finish line.’
Quebec ISP Blocking Challenged by Federal Consumer Rights Group
Quebec’s plan to block online gambling internet site faces a challenge that it is in direct conflict with federal law. (Image: gamingintelligence.com)
Quebec’s plans to force ISP’s to block access to gambling that is unlicensed being put to the test by a federal customer rights group. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) this week filed an objection up to a legislation, passed by the Quebec legislature earlier in the year, which aims to disconnect 8.2 million residents from the unregulated markets.
The bill’s supporters declare that its aim is to ‘improve general public wellness’ by forcing state residents to play on Quebec’s sole regulated online gaming site, Lotto-Quebec’s Espace-jeux.
But critics, which include net neutrality advocates, technology lawyers, while the ISPs themselves, have actually accused the Quebec federal government of setting a dangerous precedent by putting commercial gain above the freedom regarding the internet. The plans, that have been drawn up into the provinces March 2015 budget anticipate the scheme will boost federal government revenues by $13.5 million in 2016-2017 and $27 million in subsequent years.
Cost to Consumers
These gains will come at the huge expense of ISP companies, which may have said that the disruption to their infrastructures is enormous because they might have to redesign their systems from the ground up. The cost of this is passed onto consumers.
The PIAC filing states that Quebec is in direct conflict with the1993 Federal Telecommunications Act, which prohibits a communications provider from ‘control[ing] the information or influence[ing] this is or intent behind telecommunications carried unless it has approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission by it for the public.
